Dinniman Announces More than $28,000 in environmental education grants

WEST CHESTER  State Sen. Andrew Dinniman, D-19th of West Whiteland, announced eight Chester County organizations will receive a total of $28,600 in state environmental education grants.

These grants will be used to develop hands-on environmental education programs and community workshops, Dinniman said. It is crucial that we prepare the next generation of Pennsylvanians to value and safeguard the pristine waterways, lush open spaces and precious natural treasures that make our townships and boroughs such great places to call home.

The grants come through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and are funded by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which sets aside 5 percent of the pollution fines and penalties collected annually for environmental education.

The grants and projects in Chester County are:

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 $4,106 for Avon Grove Charter School to transform an underused, four-acre section of its property into a working micro-farm and nursery with a rainwater recycling and drip irrigation system.

 $5,319 for the Chester County Economic Development Foundation to sponsor career exploration showcases on a farm or at a food processing facility to serve local students enrolled in agricultural or environmental science programs. The showcases will help students learn about daily responsibilities, educational requirements, personal career and educational paths, environmental policies and practices related to the farm.

 $3,000 for the Chester County Intermediate Unit for the Its Not Easy Being Green: Are You Up to the Challenge? program, which will introduce upper elementary and middle school students to the serious challenges facing the United States specifically related to energy.

 $2,988 for the Coatesville Area Arts Alliance for presentations about organic gardening and home canning at a local event, which will educate residents about stress release, nutrition, exercise and sustainable consumer choices and activities.

 $4,500 for Delaware Valley Earth Force for a year-long educational program focused on environmental literacy planning and programming. The program will provide middle school and high school educators with professional development and extended follow-up support in watershed health.

 $2,920 for the Green Valleys Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania for a watershed-themed week during the 2013 summer camp season. Campers in preschool through seventh grade will participate in various hands-on activities designed to increase their awareness and knowledge of their local watersheds wildlife, water quality and threats to the waterways.

 $2,917 for the PA Master Naturalist program to train participants to become informed volunteers with knowledge of environmental awareness, education, and stewardship. Through both classroom and field instruction, individuals become well-versed in biodiversity, natural history, ecology, flora and fauna, and resource management, with emphasis on the local area.

 $2,850 for Urban and Rural Science Alliance for a program in cross-age mentoring, leadership and community outreach for girls and young women. College level and secondary level girls will be trained to lead, instruct, teach and serve as role models for elementary-level girls in STEM subjects and activities in community-based settings.

The grants are part of $334,074 in total environmental education funding to be distributed to 92 schools, universities, nonprofit organizations and conservation districts across Pennsylvania.